First off a warning - for some reason when I load up pictures it puts all of them out of order even the ones that I had already loaded so the new and old are all mixed. Its annoying and I tried to fix it but no luck. I may just start making new albums everytime I load pics up to stop that. But I guess its fine.

Alright. Yesterday (saturday) was a relaxing morning and early afternoon. I spent the early part of the day outside with Robyn doing some reading. At 2:00 Robyn, Colleen, Brittney, Pete, Miles and myself met up to go catch a bus to catch the ferry over to Sultanhamet to walk over to the Blue Mosque as that was our meeting spot at 4 to go to the cooking class. We waited for Lucian and Kelsey under this grape vine covered seating area in front of the Blue Mosque I love this little spot its so pretty and peaceful and of course shaded!!! The cooking place (Cooking AlaTurka) was just a short walk away from our meeting place. We were a bit early so just sat in some really comfy chairs and couches and read some food magazines. The lady who owns this place is a really great chef she has been in all sorts of well known foodie magazines and the New York Tımes so shes very good. Once she got there she gave us a list of all that we would be making and the recipes for them so we can make them at home. We made a dinner out of different mezes which are appetizers as well as one dessert. We all helped in the preperation of each dish and had a lot of fun doing so and we were SO hungry by the time we were done! First we made dolmas which are a stuffed grape leaf with rice,capers,pine nuts and other seasonings. This was a very tenious job as we had to peel apart the wet very delicate grape leaves and then stuff them with the filling and roll them tightly all without ripping them! Then some helped cut up herbs and wash the chick peas for the humus and break apart garlic while Robyn Miles and I finely hand shredded the chicken which smelled amazing. While we did this Colleen got the dough ready for our dessert and the chef worked on the red lentils. We all helped roll the dough for the dessert into balls and threw them onto the pan to give them a flat bottom then we poked a hazelnut ontop. Then after the eggplants were grilled we peeled off the skin and cut them up into mushy cubes since the insides were almost pureed from being grilled. Our final meal was so delicious we all walked away SO full. I for sure want to make some of them when Im home the only bad thing about Turkish cooking is that its very tenious and timely this is to show your guest how much you care. Taking a cooking class somehwere I traveled to is something Ive always wanted to do, and hopefully I do it again its so much fun and you learn first hand about the food culture of a place.

After dinner we all wobbled through the streets some went to meet up with Said and go to a clubbing while Kelsey myself and Lucian caught the very last ferry back to Kadikoy! We just made it on too! We got back to campus around 10:30 and we boarded the ferry ta 9 that shows you how long of travel time we have. That was also with a much shorter bus ride since it was later.

Today is who knows what. I know we all have readings to do still for tomorrow since we have class on monday. Then starting tuesday our week picks up again with lots of things to do and see! Tuesday is the grand bazaar which im very excited about. Its the largest market or bazaar in the world! should be fun and crazy!